Influence Of Non-specific Factors Research Articles

MYCOPLASMATIC (ENZOOTIC) PNEUMONIA OF PIGS AS A HEALTH PROBLEM IN FATTENING UNITS

Mycopasmatic or enzootic pneumonia is the most common disease of the respiratory system under in the intensive pig production. It is clinically manifested by coughing, a chronic inflammatory process in the lungs, high morbidity and a relatively low percentage of deaths. The infection can be transmitted horizontally and vertically. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae invades the epithelial cells of the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli and disrupts the function of the ciliary body. Evagination of epithelial cells occurs, so that the cleansing of the airway mucosa by the mucociliary apparatus is inhibited. As a result, bacterial complications (Pasteurella, Bordetella, Klebsiella, Actinobacillus, Hemophilus) are common.M.hyopneminia can play imortant role in PRDC. The development of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is favoured by large congregations of pigs in small spaces, inadequate environmental conditions (microclimate), parasitic infections and inadequate nutrition. Mycoplasma hyopneumonia can be a significant health problem on the fattening farm, exacerbated by the influence of non-specific factors as well as the spread of other bacterial pathogens.

Efficacy of the cognitive functional therapy (CFT) in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a study protocol for a randomized sham-controlled trial

BackgroundChronic low back pain is a public health problem, and there is strong evidence that it is associated with a complex interaction of biopsychosocial factors. Cognitive functional therapy (CFT) is a promising new intervention that deals with potentially modifiable multidimensional aspects of pain (e.g., provocative cognitive, movement, and lifestyle behaviors).MethodsTo investigate the efficacy of CFT compared with a sham intervention for pain intensity and disability post-intervention (immediately after the last session) in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP). This study is a randomized controlled trial in which 152 (18–60 years old) patients with CLBP will be enrolled. The patients will be randomly allocated to receive (1) CFT intervention or (2) sham intervention. The experimental group will receive individualized CFT in a pragmatic manner (5 to 7 sessions) based on the clinical progression of the participants. The sham group will attend six sessions: consisting of 30 min of photobiomodulation using a detuned device and more than 15 min of talking about neutral topics. Patients from both groups also will receive an educational booklet (for ethical reasons). Participants will be assessed pre and post-intervention, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization. The primary outcomes will be pain intensity and disability post-intervention. The secondary outcomes will be: pain intensity and disability at 3- and 6-month follow-up, as well as self-efficacy, global perceived effect of improvement, and functioning post-intervention, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. The patients and the assessor will be blinded to the treatment administered (active vs. sham).Statistical analysisThe between-group differences (effects of treatment), as well as the treatment effect for the primary and secondary outcomes, and their respective 95% confidence intervals will be calculated by constructing linear mixed models.DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, the current study will be the first to compare CFT vs. sham intervention. Sham-controlled RCTs may help to understand the influence of non-specific factors on treatment outcomes. Considering complex interventions as CFT, it is imperative to understand the impact of contextual factors on outcomes.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04518891. First Posted: August 19, 2020.

The role of the clinical biochemist in health care

Clinical biochemistry evolved as a discipline dealing with the rational performance of biochemical tests of use in diagnosis. Preoccupation with performance rather than attention to clinical relevance has diminished the clinical biochemist's role as advisor in the selection and interpretation of such tests. He must re-enter the clinical field, bringing with him a body of knowledge supplementary to that of the clinicians. His contribution should be partly in understanding the laboratory limitations of tests and the influence of non-specific factors, artefacts or drugs on measured values. He should also be able to interpret abnormal results in terms of disturbed biochemical and physiological processes rather than as indicators of specific diseases. By constantly evaluating current tests and assessing new ones in terms of their clinical value, the clinical biochemist can offer a comprehensive, but relevant, service. Clinical biochemistry evolved as a discipline dealing with the rational performance of biochemical tests of use in diagnosis. Preoccupation with performance rather than attention to clinical relevance has diminished the clinical biochemist's role as advisor in the selection and interpretation of such tests. He must re-enter the clinical field, bringing with him a body of knowledge supplementary to that of the clinicians. His contribution should be partly in understanding the laboratory limitations of tests and the influence of non-specific factors, artefacts or drugs on measured values. He should also be able to interpret abnormal results in terms of disturbed biochemical and physiological processes rather than as indicators of specific diseases. By constantly evaluating current tests and assessing new ones in terms of their clinical value, the clinical biochemist can offer a comprehensive, but relevant, service.

New approaches to the management of essential hypertension with psychological techniques

SUMMARY The treatment of high blood pressure using psychological techniques such as biofeedback and relaxation or meditation has met with only limited success so far, and has yet to expand beyond experimental and research settings. This may be partly due to the small size of changes produced in many studies, but also because poor methodology has hindered interpretation of results. In particular, the adaptation of patients to the clinic or laboratory, and the influence of non-specific factors deserve careful consideration by investigators. It is suggested that the size of pressure modifications might be enhanced by introducing treatment at the stages in the development of the disorder that are characterised by high levels of autonomic activity. Recent haemodynamic studies indicate that this condition is fulfilled less by established hypertension than by the early or borderline phases. Similarly, training should be associated with conditions in which psychosicial influences on the cardiovascular system are prominent. It is apparent that high pressure episodes are produced through the imposition of taxing or distressing psychosocial stimuli in both animals and man. It may be worthwhile therefore, to help people to overcome reactions to psychological stressors directly; hitherto, biofeedback and relaxation have been used to reduce the tonic pressure levels of resting subjects. Date from two experiments that illustrate this approach will be described. Both were comparisons of the pressure reductions produced with feedback or relaxation instructions amongst normotensives. In each case, training was carried out while subjects were performing distracting tasks; the particular portions of the studies that will be discussed involved mental arithmetic and auditory reaction time tests. The results suggest that biofeedback leads to more effective control of blood pressure response to the tasks, and to some ability to reduce pressor reactions. In contrast, when training was carried out under conventional resting conditions, the modifications seen with the two techniques were identical. The value of these methods may be enhanced by actively engaging patients in their own treatment and by incorporating selfcontrol techniques into a more general programme of behaviour change. Thus simultaneously, energies should be directed towards modifying smoking, diet, level of exercise and other factors likely to reduce risks of cardiovascular disease. Within such a framework, training in the voluntary control of blood pressure may play an important part.

Immunoglobulins under the Influence of Nonspecific Factors: III. Immunoglobulins, Pertussis Antibodies and Lysozyme in three Child Populations Exposed to Different Air Pollution

The levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, lysozyme, agglutinins against B. pertussis and B. parapertussis were followed in the blood serum of 306 children 9–10 years old in 3 areas of Central Bohemian region. In children dwelling in areas with more polluted air significantly higher levels of serum lysozyme and of parapertussis antibodies were found by the t-test. The distribution of these values shows significant differences between more polluted areas in comparison with lowerpollution area also in Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.The average levels of Ig approached statistically critical values but did not reach them, but significant differences in the distribution of values of IgG and IgA were shown by the F-test and x2-test between lightly and heavily polluted areas. The values of immunological reactions in polluted areas were always higher than in the non-polluted group. This provides evidence for a hypothesis about a stimulatory effect of polluted air on immunological mechanisms in child population.The higher values of IgM observed recently by other authors in women were shown in girls of 9–10 years.

Introduction to Principles of Electroencephalography

ABSTRACT Many physicians refer to the electroencephalogram by a glib abbreviation, yet few can justify their familiarity with this diagnostic aid. Electroencephalography is a complex discipline, but it is not so complicated the non-neurologically oriented practitioner cannot have a basic understanding.The presentation includes the discussion of the origin and significance of the brain waves; technique, methods, and instrumentation; localization by the phase reversal technique, in particular bipolar and monopolar recording; cortical and subcortical activity; the alpha rhythm; the beta rhythm; theta and delta rhythms; physiological variants in the frequency spectrum; influence of nonspecific factors on the interpretation of the electroencephalogram; the effect of sleep; and epilepsy.Special attention is paid to the fact the EEG is not a panacea of diagnostic doubt. In fact, the author, who is well qualified in neurological spheres, quite frankly admits that the experience of the past 25 years shows in many

The influence of non-specific factors on the nasal mucous membranes in patients with rhinitis vasomotoria.

The influence of non-specific factors on the nasal mucous membranes in patients with rhinitis vasomotoria.

STUDIES IN IMMUNITY

Knowledge of variation in the reaction of the skin to tuberculin is of importance to the clinician and to the immunologist. The former is interested in several questions, all of which might be answered by a solution of these two: 1. Is a positive skin reaction an absolute indication of tuberculous infection? 2. Is there ever absence of the skin reaction in cases of tuberculosis? Intimately associated with the problem is the effect on tuberculin allergy of advanced or rapidly progressing forms of tuberculosis and the influence of nonspecific factors. It is commonly stated that the skin reaction may become negative in terminal tuberculous conditions such as miliary tuberculosis or tuberculous meningitis. Our own experience and a study of that of others lead us to the conclusion that such a depression in allergy seldom occurs and that the obtaining of a positive skin reaction is mainly a question of dosage.